Electrotherapeutic appliance.



7 PATENTED 001 a, 1903. W. B. BASSBLL. ELEU-TROTHERABEUTIG APPLIANCE.

I APPLIQATIO'N FILED DEC]. 3 1902.

N0 MODEL.

A dRNEY m: mums Pcrzfls 00.. PHoro-Lmvu. WASHINOYON, u. c.

UNITED STATES Patented October 6, 1903.

' WILLIAM BENEDICT BASSELL, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPLIANCE.

PECIFIdATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,385, dated October 6, 1903,

Application filed December 8, 1902, 'fierial No. 134,251, (No model.) 7

T0 ctZZ whom, it flea/y concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Bnnnmcr BASSELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Appliances, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to electrical applisuch benefits as may be derived from a mild current of electricity. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of my improved electrical cap. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same on line 00 x of Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 is an under side view in elevation of said cap.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention I employ a suitably-constructed concave-convex body or cap 1, which may be formed of any desirable flexible material and which is preferably provided with perforations, as indicated at 2. This cap-body is formed on opposite sides with V-shaped cuts, as indicated at 3, the edges of the cuts thus formed being adjustably connected by suitable laces 4, thus providing for an adjustment in the size of the cap to insure its fitting different heads. To the inner surface of the cap-body I secure on opposite sides of the center thereof comparatively thin metal plates 5 and 6, from which radiate -contact strips or arms 5 and 6", the

contact-bodies thus formed being curved to conform to the curvature of the inner surface of the cap, to which they are suitably secured. With these plates are connected, respectively, wires 7 and 8, the latter leading through an opening 9 in the center of the cap-body and having their outer terminations in connection, respectively, with the poles of a suitable battery 10. As indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, these Wires may be of a flexible nature and covered and may be of any desired length.

In utilizing my invention for the relief and cure of nervousness,insomnia, headache, and other kindred troubles it will be understood that the cap-body is so worn as to cause the head of the wearer to become a medium of connection between the separated contactplates or their branches, thereby insuring the head of the wearer being subjected to the action of a comparatively mild current of electricity while the cap is being worn. It is obvious that a comparatively small battery may be employed and that a convenient disposition of the same may be made without breaking connection with the cap when the latter is, being worn.

If desired, the contact-plates and their radially-arranged strips or arms may be covered by a suitable thin fabric.

7 An important advantage of the present device resides in the substantially semispherical shape of the cap, whereby it has a rounded or arched crown or top, and as the contactstrips 5 and 6 extend from the top of the cap downwardly to a point at or near the lower edge of the cap said contact-strips embrace the forehead, back, and sides of the head as well as the top thereof. Another import-ant advantage resides in the slits 3 and lacings 4, whereby the cap may be snugly fitted to heads of different sizes and the contact-strips thereby brought into intimate engagement with the head. I

It will be observed that the appliance herein described is simple of construction and adapt-- ed to be readily and easily applied. 7 Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. Anelectric appliance, comprisinga flexible cap to be worn upon the head and having an arched top merging into the sides of the cap, opposite contact devices secured within the top of the cap and provided with a plurality of contact-strips extending downwardly to points at or adjacent to the lower edge of the cap, and flexible electric conductors piercing the top of the cap and connected to the respective contact devices.

2. An electric appliance, comprising a substantially semispherical flexible cap to be worn upon the head and provided with diametrically opposite slits, lacings connecting the opposite edges of the respective slits to vary the size of the cap, opposite contact devices .secured within the cap and disposed in the rated contacting devices within the cap, substantially as specified.

4:. An electric appliance, comprising'a sub stantially semispherical flexible cap having perforations and also provided with substantially V'-shaped diametrically opposite slits, lacings connecting the opposite edges of the slits to vary the size of the cap, contact devices secured within the crown of the cap and disposed in the opposite half-sections thereof 'defined by the slits, each contact device having a plurality of substantially radial strips extending downwardly in contact with the cap to points at or near the lower edge thereof, and flexible electric conductors piercing the crown of the cap between the contact members and connected to the respective members.

WILLIAM BENEDICT BASSE LL.

In presence of- A. L. PHELPS, W. L. MORROW. 

